First, open mics seem to be multiplying in my part of the world. In addition to my monthly WritersMic, there are a slew of others, catering to various genres and writers, from poetry to fiction, to published and unpublished writers. Here are a few happening in Connecticut soon.
On Friday, March 20, from 6-8pm at Spruce Coffee in New Haven, CT, Connecticut Book Festivals (CBF) is organizing one of its many events: WRITER SNEAK PEEKS. They’re looking for unpublished writers to present their work-in-progress to a live audience for feedback. If you don’t want to read, come to listen and comment. Details and sign-up info here.
CBF is also planning a Bookstore event on April 18-19, and is hosting a Zoom call, where authors can find out more about being part of it, on March 24, at 7pm. Click here for the Zoom link.
On Thursday, March 26, at 6:30 PM, Norwalk Public Library: Sharbari Ahmed and Samantha Kellerwill be in conversation with poet Laurel Peterson, talking about international literature—South Africa and South Asia—as well as about family and race and mothering. Laurel Peterson will host! Details here.
Saturday, March 28, 6 PM, The Sparkle Bookstore, in Sparkill, New York is hosting a poetry workshop on writing prose poems, as well as a celebration of Laurel Peterson’s new book, The Sky Weeps With Us. Sign up here
On Friday, April 3, and Friday, May 1, from 7-9pm, The Writers’ Factory Open Mic takes place. It’s always on the first Friday at ReRead Booksellers at the Watch Factory in Cheshire, CT. Bring in a piece of writing you’ve been working on and share it in a supportive community! More details here.
On April 8, join Norwalk Poet Laureate Katie Schneider for Norwalk Poets & Writers Nights featuring screenwriter/fiction writer T.E. Hahn, and a very special lineup for a Poetry Month Celebration! Details, tickets and signups here.
FUMFA Poets and Writers Live Open Mic, hosted by poets Katie Schneider and Chris Belden, has been moved to April 10 (from April 17) due to scheduling issues. This will be our Earth Day-themed Open Mic–perfect for our beloved . We hope you’ll still be able to participate or attend at Eco Evolution in Norwalk at 7pm. $5. For a 5-minute spot, sign up here.
On Saturday April 11, from 1-2:15pm ET, British Litro Magazine is offering a masterclass in Writing for an International Audience: An Exploration of Identity. It’s a single–session masterclass that lasts 60-75 minutes and focuses on one practical question: how do you make work rooted in culture and identity readable across contexts without flattening what makes it specific? You’ll learn craft tools for clarity, reference points, and voice, and you’ll look briefly at excerpts from international writers as models for how identity and culture operate on the page. Sign up here £85
Sunday, April 12, from 2–4pm, Norwalk Public Library: Poet Laureate Emeriti book launchcelebration for Bill Hayden’s anthology, and my new book The Sky Weeps With Us. Come join us for cookies, camaraderie, and great poems from Norwalk! More info here.
On Wednesday, April 15, 2025, at 6:30 PM, at the Norwalk Public Library, hear poets Jerry Johnson and Katie Schneider read from their work and talk about what it means to be a writer, how they got started, self-publishing, and more. Details here.
On Thursday, April 16, 6-7 pm at the Westport Library, join acclaimed crime writers Deborah Levison, T.M. Dunn, and Wendy Whitman for a gripping in-person panel, Ripped from the Headlines: Weaving Real-Life Crime into Storytelling. It will explore how true events — from serial killers to domestic violence — shape both fiction and nonfiction. As active members of the Connecticut chapter of Sisters in Crime CT, this powerhouse trio offers an insider look at transforming real-world cases into compelling narratives. Perfect for fans of true crime, thrillers, and anyone curious about the craft behind the headlines.
Whether you’re polishing a manuscript or preparing a fully illustrated picture book, now is a great time to get ready for contest season. The Indie Author Project Annual Contest will be open for submissions April 1-May 31, and this year the IAP is introducing a brand-new Children’s Picture Book category. The contest is free to enter, with submissions evaluated by librarian judges across the U.S. and Canada. Winners in nine genres receive $2,500, runners-up receive $500, and one genre winner from the contest winners will be named 2026 Indie Author of the Year during Indie Author Day this November. Learn more here.
More info to come on Monday!
